Stars’ forward Owen Lamb (#21) joins teammates MacGregor Sinclair (#19), Cody Spagrud (#3), and Austin Becker (#16), as the three celebrate Sinclair’s tying goal in the third period of Game 1. (Martin Martinson/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Stars score late to shock Portage crowd, claim 1-0 Anavet Cup series lead

Apr 26, 2019 | 10:51 PM

Despite finding themselves down by a couple of goals early, the Battlefords North Stars battled back to defeat the Portage Terriers 3-2 Friday to take a 1-0 lead in the teams’ best-of-seven Anavet Cup series.

The Terriers opened the scoring just 6:13 into the first period, as defenseman Morgan Poirier fired a backdoor-pass to the edge of the crease at the far-side post, where Portage hometown product, Jared Roy slapped home the first tally of the new series.

Then later in the period, the soon-to-be 21-year-old Roy scored again, notching his second of the period as well, to make it 2-0 by period’s end.

In addition to the 2-0 lead, the Terriers outshot the Stars 11-4 in the opening frame.

BDO Debt Solutions

The Financial Impact of Assisting Adult Children

1h ago

Moose Kebab

Lost, found and full of flavour: Moose Kebab and Shawarma a new family tradition

Sep 19, 2024

Weapons at school

Weapons found in Dillon school yard

Sep 19, 2024

In the second however, it didn’t take long for the North Stars to respond, as Dylan Esau pulled his team back to within one, just over a minute into the second. Scoring on a rebound opportunity in front, Esau became the 19^th different North Star to score for the team since the start of the playoffs.

Down by just a single goal heading into the third period, despite being outshot 17-9 through 40 minutes, the North Stars would pull even in the game just 6:30 into the third on the power play, thanks to veteran, MacGregor Sinclair.

Sinclair’s goal was a laser off some nice passing throughout the offensive zone, as Austin Becker found Spagrud, who then delivered the puck perfectly for Sinclair to rip home on a one-timmer.

With the goal, Sinclair, who scored two goals in his team’s Canalta Cup-clinching Game 5 last Friday, has now scored three over his last two contests.

Then, with just-under a minute to go in the third, when it looked like the game was all-but destined for OT, the “California Kid,” Ryan Gil came through to play the hero.

The play developed quickly with just under two-minutes to go, when Quintin Loon-Stewardson coming out of the penalty box after serving a two-minute minor for a high-stick, stepped back on the ice just in time to receive the puck on his tape.

Without a moment’s hesitation, and no-doubt hearing the captain’s call, Loon-Stewardson then slung a pass cross-ice right on the money for a surging Cody Spagrud, busting down the right-wing side, full speed ahead.

Blazing over the attacking line with just under a minute to go, Spagrud then relayed a feed to Gil in the middle of the ice, where from the high-slot, the forward zipped home his first of the series with just 51 seconds to go in regulation time. At 3-2, Gil’s goal provided the Stars their first lead of the night, while also proving to be the game winner, shocking the Portage crowd.

Stars’ goaltender, Joel Grzybowski led the way for his team on the evening, providing an outstanding 29-save performance on the 31 shots he faced.

Keeping his team in the game throughout the early going of the contest until they could find their footing, Grzybowski’s play showed first-hand why the goaltender was awarded Playoff MVP honours in the Stars’ Canalta Cup victory.

At the other end, Terriers’ goalie, Nathan Moore stopped 15 of the 18 shots sent his way in the loss.

Game 2 of the Anavet Cup goes Saturday, Apr. 26. The Ultra Print Pregame Show will begin at 7 p.m. with puck drop at 7:30 p.m. on NAPA North Stars Hockey on 1050 CJNB.

First period:

6:13 PT Jared Roy (1) ASST: Reilly Funk (1), Morgan Poirier (1)

18:12 PT Jared Roy (2) ASST: Chase Brakel (1), Peyton Gorski (1)

Second period:

1:01 BAT Dylan Esau (1) ASST: Austin Becker (1), Matthias Urbanski (1)

Third period:

6:29 BAT MacGregor Sinclair (1) ASST: Cody Spagrud (1), Austin Becker (2) (PP)

19:09 BAT Ryan Gil (1) ASST: Cody Spagrud (2), Quintin Loon-Stewardson (1)

–

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1